Archive for the ‘Outreach Working Group’

Come out to our Winter Party to meet local Greens and celebrate the wins we had in 2017!

Hear more about what we’ve been up to and see how you can get more involved. Speakers will include some of our newly elected Greens.

We’re being hosted by the gracious and spectacular folks at PhillyCAM (699 Ranstead Street) who will be filming the party to help us spread the Green word to their viewers. Come have fun and help us look good! It’s a potluck gathering so bring a snack or drink to share if you wish.

Check out the Facebook Event for more details or to let us know you’re coming.

Join us as we welcome our new members with a potluck style party!
Feel free to bring a small dish or snack to share, but you need not bring anything to attend.

All Greens, old and new, are invited to attend,
as well as those who are simply curious about the Green Party and want to learn more.
• Learn what we’re up to and how you can get involved
• Q&A session for new members

Featured Speaker:
Green Party Candidate for Judge of Superior Court Jules Mermelstein

Come join us for food, conversation and fun!
This event is wheelchair accessible.

Outreach Working Group
Green Party of Philadelphia
Report to the Membership, May 25, 2017

Written by Margie Neary. Presented by Taj Magruder.

1. Web updates
Can you ask Rachel to provide update on status of website improvements?

2. New banner
We need group to vote on whether or not to include the phone number on the banner. Personally, I agree with Georgie that we don’t need the phone number, but we’ll see what the group decides. Georgie will finalize the design accordingly (similar to old banner except with new logo) and work with Fast Signs to create the banner.

3. Opposing SEPTA fracked-gas power plant
Margie & Christian attended a few planning meetings with 350 Philly and helped advertise the rally outside of Bass’ office on social media and by canvassing in the local neighborhood. Several Greens turned out to support the event. Margie took pictures and video. Unclear what next steps are in this campaign, 350 is getting more engaged with local Nicetown groups to help plan the way forward.

5.Â Summer Welcome Party
Saturday, July 8, 1-3pm, William Way. Can you bring flyers to hand out?
Jules Mermelstein will be the only speaker to allow ample time for Q&A. Newly registered Greens will be sent a mailed invitation. Other tasks will be coordinated by Margie & Christian and assigned to Outreach group members and others interested in helping.

6. Happy Hour
June 23, Spruce Street Harbor Park, details will be sent in an email

The April membership meeting of the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) endorsed the Earth Quaker Action Team’s (EQAT) “Walk for Green Jobs and Justice.” The walk is part of EQAT’s larger campaign, “Power Local Green Jobs,” which demands that PECO — PA’s largest utility company — invest in locally generated solar power that benefits low-income communities and communities of color.

The Green Party platform is closely aligned with the mission of this campaign, as it highlights several of the Greens stated values. Chris Robinson, the GPOP membership secretary, points out that the Green Party platform says, “Greens support science-based policies to curb climate change. We have an ambitious plan to make drastic changes quickly to avert global catastrophe. We will expend maximum effort to preserve a planet friendly to life as we know it by curtailing greenhouse gas emissions and actively removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.”

“In addition, Robinson highlights the Green Party platform’s call to “create an inclusive program to train workers for the new, clean-energy economy. Focusing on both the environment and social justice, prioritize the creation of green jobs in communities of color and low-income communities.”

“The Walk for Green Jobs and Justice” begins on Monday, May 8, at Morris Chapel Baptist Church, 2701 North 12th Street in North Philadelphia. Over the course of two weeks, walkers will traverse the five counties included within PECO’s service area: Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia.

The final mile of the walk will begin at Philadelphia’s City Hall on Monday, May 22, at noon and will end outside of PECO headquarters. Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, will participate in the final mile, along with other groups including POWER,a broad multi-faith network of more than 60 congregations, and 350 Phiadelphia.

EQAT’s “Power Local Green Jobs” campaign demands that PECO:
1. Dramatically increase the purchase of local rooftop solar power so that 20% of PECO’s electricity comes from roofs in its service area by 2050;
2. Spur solar installation on suitable roofs in high unemployment areas, starting in North Philadelphia, to economically benefit those communities; and
3. Prioritize installation by local workers, especially from high unemployment areas.

The Green Party is an independent political party founded on the four pillars of nonviolence, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and social justice. For information about the next Green Party meeting, please call 215-843-4256 or email gpop@gpop.org. Visit the Green Party of Philadelphia’s website at www.gpop.org.
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This report was prepared by Outreach Working Group (OWG) Co-chair Margie Neary, and presented to the GPOP Membership by OWG Co-chair Taj Magruder.

1. New logo
Thanks to Georgie for designing our new logo! (Belinda has the gift certificate and will present to Georgie). Can you ask Rachel to provide update on when the website will be updated with new logo?2. New banner
Please request approval from membership to spend $257.00 on new banner with new logo. (Chris obtained quote from FastSigns, they repaired our current banner)

3. Opposing SEPTA fracked-gas power plant
Margie has attended two recent 350 Philadelphia meetings and has alerted GPOP to several actions organized by 350. As a result, many GPOP members have called Councilwoman Cindy Bass’ office asking her to rezone the site. She and Chris canvassed at Shop Rite w/350 on 4/13 to collect signatures to ask Cindy Bass to rezone the site and Margie has been active promoting this activity on Twitter/Facebook. Will continue to keep GPOP informed of actions & updates.

4. Summer Welcome Party
Saturday in July (exact date TBD). Will be held at William Way again.
Can you ask membership to approve fee of $130 to rent space?
Jules Mermelstein will be invited to speak. Other speakers TBA. Newly registered Greens will be sent a mailed invitation. Please ask for membership approval of $25 for postage & printing invitations for newly registered greens.

5. GPOP to endorse “Walk for Green Jobs and Justice” – an EQAT campaign
Campaign demands that PECO shift to 20% local solar by 2025, prioritizing rooftop solar and job creation in neighborhoods with high unemployment (north philly)
Will commence a 100 mile “Walk for Green Jobs and Justice” on May 8, concluding on May 22 with a march down Market Street from City Hall to PECO HQ, joined by Bill McKibben, 350.org founder
Margie will organize GPOP members to march on May 22.
Please ask membership to vote to endorse this campaign.

Thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday, February 4, to help us welcome new members to the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP). We had a fantastic turnout, with more than 45 people in attendance and a beautiful potluck spread. William Way LGBT Community Center was a great setting for our party. It was a standing room only crowd during the talks given by our featured speakers, Kristin Combs and Cheri Honkala. We raised money for Cheri’s campaign for State Rep in District 197. People also volunteered to help Cheri’s Campaign in the upcoming Special Election on Tuesday, March 21.

If you missed the party, don’t fret. We’ll be hosting another social gathering this summer. Please stay tuned for those details!

Check out some pics from the party (below), and please join us at the next GPOP General Membership Meeting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 22, at Shissler Recreation Center, 1800 Blair Street, Fishtown, Philadelphia.

Margie Neary, co-chair
GPOP Outreach Working Group

Galen Tyler, GPOP City Committee Chair

Greens welcome new members

Kristin Combs, featured speaker and former Green Party candidate for Philadelphia City Council At-Large

Cheri Honkala, featured speaker and Green Party candidate for State Representative in District 197

Reservations are encouraged but not required.
Join us as we welcome our new members with a potluck style party!

Feel free to bring a small dish or snack to share,
but you need not bring anything to attend.

All Greens, old and new, are invited to attend,
as well as those who are simply curious about the Green Party and want to learn more.
Learn what we’re up to and how you can get involved
Q&A session for new members

What a week it has been… Read on to find out how Greens came out this week to Reclaim, Resist and Organize. And don’t forget about the Welcome Party for New Members coming up on 2/4. You can RSVP and get the details here.

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On Monday, January 16, 2017, members from the Green Party of Philadelphia marched, rallied and volunteered in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The “March for a Better America,” organized by the Reclaim MLK Coalition, was attended by at least seven Green Party members who carried our banner through the streets of Philadelphia in support of the march. The March concluded at Mother Bethel AME Church, where members participated in a rally and listened to speeches from Philadelphia City Council, the Philadelphia Student Union, national labor unions, and other important voices in affirmation of MLK Day and resistance against the incoming presidency.

Six Green Party members also volunteered at the William Way LGBT Community Center, where they were put to work cleaning the streets in the area, picking up litter at Louis I. Kahn Memorial Park, and helping organize the William Way Library. It was a successful day for building community, good will, understanding, and friendships. Go Greens!

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On Friday, January 20, Greens participated in the local Occupy Inauguration rally at Thomas Paine Plaza as well as the Inauguration Day Civic Engagement Fair at the Parkway Central Library.

And, yes, on Saturday, January 21, Greens marched with 50 thousand others down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in solidarity with the Women’s March.

Welcome Party for New GPOP Members
— By Marge Neary, co-chair, GPOP Outreach Working Group

http://www.gp.org/phily_greens_welcome_party
On Saturday, February 4th, the Green Party of Philadelphia (GPOP) is hosting a Welcome Party for New Members at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., from 1PM to 3PM. All Greens, old and new, are invited to attend, including anyone who simply wants to learn more about the Green Party. The Welcome Party is an opportunity for new members – and for those who are interested — to socialize, build friendships and community, and learn about specific ways to get involved. Belinda Davis, GPOP Recording Secretary said, the Welcome Party will allow voters “to learn about what Green Party members have been doing, and to figure out how they would like to get involved and move the Green Party forward. Greens are interested in both electoral politics and other forms of political action.”

The event will feature two speakers, Kristin Combs and Cheri Honkala. Kristin Combs was the Green Party candidate for Philadelphia City Council At-Large in 2015 and most recently ran as the Green Party candidate for PA State Treasurer in 2016. Cheri Honkala was the Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee in 2012 and ran for Sheriff of Philadelphia in 2011. She is an anti-poverty advocate, co-founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and co-founder and National Coordinator of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. The GPOP City Committee will be on hand for an extensive Q&A session.
“We are happy to welcome so many new voters,” said Chris Robinson, GPOP Membership Secretary, “and we know that their energy will help us become even stronger in 2017.”
There will also be information available on the structure and operations of the GPOP, as well as helpful handouts on how to register as a member of the Green Party and how to run for elected office as a Green Party candidate. Representatives from local activist groups friendly to the GPOP will be on hand to provide information about how to support their work.

It will be a potluck style party, so attendees are encouraged to bring a small dish or snack to share, but need not bring anything to attend.
The Green Party embraces our responsibility to the community and the world, and works to participate in making the City of Philadelphia a model of a just and sustainable society.
The Green Party is an independent political party founded on the four pillars of nonviolence, grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom and social justice. For information about the next Green Party meeting, please call 215-843-4256 or email gpop@gpop.org.
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Announcements included:
–Reminder of the national Green Party convention in Houston, 8/4-8/7.
–There will be an Ignite Peace anti-drone demonstration (endorsed by GPOP) on 7/30 in Horsham, at the PA Air Guard Station.

Outreach Working Group
A new outreach working group has been formed, so far including Chris D., Galen, Alia, Chris R., Yakov, and Vivek. The group is committed to neighborhood-based, long-term recruitment, engagement, and maintenance of new members. Minutes of the subcommittee meetings can be found on GoogleDocs; the link can be shared with interested GPOP members. Members voted to formally approve the working group, whose members will speak on behalf of the party. It was determined that, in lieu of an August monthly membership meeting, which we often let fall in any case, we will have a potluck recruiting event on 8/24. It will take place in Clark Park; rain location will be Hillary’s house (5031 Catherine).

March 4 Our Lives & Power to the People Rally, 7/25
Patrick presented to the assembled his vision of a spectacle for both, offering at once a means of keeping participants engaged and unified and an excellent photo op for the media. This will be done through the scale and height brought to the march via great flags and signs on high poles. These, along with some of the megaphones purchased for the march, will also remain useful for GPOP in the future. We discussed how to manage with a deficiency of volunteers. Greens from around the country will arrive at the march early (1:30-2) to take the flags and signs, also to lead chants.
For the rally itself, we still have a list of needed items, which has been posted to GPOP listservs. Alia also sought GPOP members to call those who have signed up online to work with the Stein campaign to volunteer at the rally. She encouraged everyone who could to bring GoPros and other action cams, to record events at the march and rally, important in the case of any police improprieties. Chris R. will bring the GPOP banner for the table at the rally. Alia will have GPUS/GPOP cards made up to distribute at the rally, along with the sale of t-shirts she has designed and had made (to benefit GPOP) and the Stein campaign’s own merchandise.

GPPA Delegate Meeting, 7/24
Hillary announced that GPPA quarterly state meeting, on 7/24, will take place at Penn Newman Center, 37th and Chestnut. Attendees should come at 10:30, and also bring all petitions (whether fully or partially completed, and signed by the signature collector as required on the back) to submit. The single piece of business at the meeting will begin at 11:00, which is a vote on a new state logo. The assembled will then continue on to join in the Clean Energy climate march, where Greens will march in the anti-TPP contingent, led by Margaret Flowers.
As to petitioning: it appears that we are virtually set in terms of signatures needed to get Jill Stein on the ballot in PA, with 200-300% of the needed 5,000 signatures, Hillary reported.
Further discussion of the final months of the presidential campaign was tabled, though members will continue to work closely on publicity and events.

Treasurer’s Report
Hillary distributed a detailed financial report, showing a current balance of $1367.49. She suggested that we could waive discussion of financial support for Galen’s flight to the national meeting because it appears there will be national underwriting. Members approved expenditure of up to $300 for the informational cards that we will distribute at the rally and elsewhere.